Namit Malhotra’s Bold Vision for Ramayana: Redefining Indian Storytelling on a Global Stage
Mumbai — Get ready for a cinematic revolution! Namit Malhotra, the visionary producer behind the ambitious Ramayana adaptation, is on a mission to shatter stereotypes and put Indian storytelling front and center on the world stage. In a candid chat with The Times of India, Malhotra, the CEO of DNEG and founder of Prime Focus, opened up about his dream to make Ramayana—starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Yash as Ravana—a global phenomenon, rivaling Hollywood giants like Oppenheimer and Forrest Gump. Tired of Hollywood’s outdated view of India as “poor and victims,” Malhotra’s pouring his heart, soul, and a jaw-dropping ₹4,000 crore budget into this two-part epic. Want to know how he plans to pull it off? Let’s dive into this game-changing story.
Breaking Hollywood’s Stereotypes
Malhotra’s fire was lit years ago watching Jurassic Park, a film that showed him the power of visual storytelling to create believable worlds. But what bugged him? Hollywood’s lens on India—think slums and sob stories. “All the films they saw us as were victims, always less fortunate, treated poorly by the world,” he told The Times of India. “That’s not who we are. That’s not the country I come from.” With Ramayana, he’s flipping the script, showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage through a story that’s “the greatest epic of all time.” This isn’t just a movie—it’s a cultural movement to make every Indian proud and show the world what India’s really about.
A ₹4,000 Crore Bet on Indian Pride
With a budget that outstrips Hollywood heavyweights like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Superman, Ramayana is India’s priciest film ever. Malhotra’s funding it himself, no outside cash needed. “We’re not taking anybody’s money,” he declared in a podcast with Prakhar Gupta. “People thought I was crazy when we started six-seven years ago, but I’m taking the greatest belief system of our country and presenting it in the grandest form possible.” Shot for IMAX and powered by DNEG’s eight-time Oscar-winning VFX (think Dune and Interstellar), the film promises mind-blowing visuals, from epic landscapes to cosmic battles. The first glimpse, dropped on July 3, 2025, left fans raving on X, with @PlanetWalhala calling it “a visual masterpiece.”
A Star-Studded, Global Team
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal), Ramayana boasts a dream cast: Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The score? A first-ever collaboration between A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Hollywood stunt legends Terry Notary (Avengers) and Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road) are choreographing epic battles, while production designers Ravi Bansal and Ramsey Avery reimagine ancient India. Malhotra’s personal touch—his kids are named Raghav and Raghveer—drives his passion to honor the epic’s authenticity while aiming for global appeal. “It’s our truth, our history,” he said. “Now, it’s our gift to the world.”
Why This Matters
Malhotra’s no stranger to success, having built DNEG from a Mumbai garage to a VFX empire with eight Oscars. But Ramayana, set for release in Diwali 2026 (Part 1) and 2027 (Part 2), is his boldest bet yet. It’s not just about box office numbers—it’s about proving Indian stories can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hollywood’s best. Will it redefine global cinema? The buzz on X, from @malhotra_namit’s proud posts to fans’ hype, suggests it just might. Stay tuned for a saga that’s set to make history.
